Package wrapping machine



Dec. 22, 1942. J. SALADIN ,3

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 65 gzwgence w W lad/7' i 1 'fi ATTORNEYS.

1942- L. J. SALADIN 2,306,191;

PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR.

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Dec. 22, 1942. L. J. SALADIN PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 28, 1941 VENTOR.

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9 Sheets-Sheet 4 L. J. SALADIN PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 Dec. 22, 1942;

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PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Shet 7 Filed July 28, 1941 ATTORNEY I Dec. 22, 1942. L. J. SALADlN PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 w wow w am my QQWI QQ dm v V 7 NW0 *INNWMI W .Q0 3 I l ll) n d! g; b-

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I J. SALADIN PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 awpeizcecf d INVENTQZZ,

Patented Dec. 22, 1942' PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE Lawrence J. Saladin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 28, 1941, Serial No..404,260

22 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved package wrapping machine and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a package wrapping machine for assembling and wrapping pieces of chewing gum, candy or the like, in a flat package with the sticks disposed laterally edge to edge and with their opposite ends in parallel lines.

In an application of Lawrence Saladin and Willet B. Ranney, Serial No. 296,378, filed September 25, 1939, is described a package of the kind which the improved wrapping machine is designed to Wrap.

That is a package of pieces enclosed in a wrapper made of an elongated sheet bent transversely upon itself to close one end of the package and form opposed sections of the wrapper. The package contains a plurality of pieces shorter in length than the width of the wrapper. Each piece is enclosed in a tubular wrapper having its ends sealed together to provide flat projecting end fins; and the wrapped pieces are disposed edge to edge in a common plane transversely of the wrapper between the opposed sections thereof. The wrapper sections have lateral sealing margins between which said end fins are sealed and have projecting end flaps sealed together at one end of the package against the edge of the proximate wrapped piece, leaving the said flaps free beyond the seal to be grasped and pulled apart when the package is to be opened.

The machine thus includes means for wrapping the individual pieces of gum or the like, as well as the means for assembling and wrapping the packages of pieces.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully in the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved machine.

Figure 2 is a horizontal plan section on an enlarged scale in a plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view representing a vertical section through the machine in a plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view representing a horizontal section of the machine in a plane indicated by the line 5-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial end view on an enlarged scale of the feed end of the machine looked at from a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view in a plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Figur 3, the scale being the same as that of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view like unto Figure 6, with the parts in a different position.

Figure 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of the machine on a still further enlarged scale in a plane indicated by the line 88 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a partial horizontal sectional view in a plane indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing parts thereof in a different position.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are perspective views showing successive stages in the wrapping of the individual pieces to be enclosed in the package.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the part of the apparatus which performs the step between the formation of the wrapper shown in Figure 12 and its completion shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a partial horizontal section of the machine in a plane indicated by the line l5-l5 of Figure 3, but with the parts shown on a larger scale.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in some detail the carriage in which sticks, assembled in flat package array, are on the way to engage a depending package wrapper length to be enfolded' by spring members in a receiving arm of a package wrapping and sealing turret.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of said turret, including other arms. Figure 18 is a perspective view of the seale package, showing in dotted lines hoW it may be opened to remove an enclosed stick.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings: 20 indicates the machine frame upon which the various parts now to be described are mounted. The pieces of gum or the like to be Wrapped are disposed in a hopper 2| mounted at the top of the frame at the right-hand end thereof, as shown in Figure 1. From the hopper 2| they are fed to a casing 22 containing a devicewhich acts in a familiar manner to direct them endwise, one by one, into a vertical tubular channel member 23. The channel 23 opens at its bottom end into a flat circular casing 24 (see Figures 5, 6, '7 and 8) fixed to the frame in a vertical plane extending at right angles to the length of the machine. From said casing 24 and by mechanism contained therein,

the pieces are fed laterally, flatwise (to the left' as shown in the'drawings) towards the piecewrapping and package-wrapping part of the machine.

In the casing 24 and concentric therewith is mounted a rotary feed member 25. It comprises laterally spaced discs 25 (see Figure 8) with an interposed spacing disc 25 of smaller diameter to which they are fixed. Said rotor is keyedto a horizontal shaft. 26 having suitable bearing 2'! in the frame. Its spaced discs 25 25 are each provided with a plurality (four in this instance) of like, equally spaced, radially disposed arms 23 with arcuate fingers 28 radially spaced from the disc and extending in thedirection in which the rotor is designed to rotate, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. The fingers 29 of one of said discs 25*- have lateral projections 29* which extend through a circular space or slot between a circular plate 3|, which forms a vertical wall of the casing 24 and the circular wall 24 of the casing 24.

A spring controlled vertical gate 32 is pivoted within the casing 24 by a horizontal pin 32 located forwardly of the vertical path of discharge of .the pieces A from the channel 23 into the casing 24. Said gate normally stands as a continuation ofthe forward wall of the said chan nel (see Figure 5). The pin 32 is rotatively mounted in a cover 24! hinged at 24 to the casing 24 (see Figures 5, 6 and 8). Said pin 32 extends beyond the plane of the wall plate 3| of the casing as shown in Figure 5. There it has fixed to it a trip arm 32*, disposed to swing in a vertical plane and depending into the path of travel of the lateral projections 29 of the fingers 29.

At points spaced in the direction of rotation of the rotor 25 from the said lateral projections 29 are like, equally spaced pockets 33 formed in its spaced discs 25*. Said pockets are inclined rearwardly to a radius of the rotor with respect to the direction of its rotation and are adapted to receive the pieces of gum or the like when a pocket comes into alignment below the channel 23. In the casing 24; in vertical alignment below the channel 23 and in the space between the rotor discs 25*, 25 is a horizontal shelf 34 fixed to the casing 24 (see Figures 6, 7 and 8).

The operation of the mechanism in the casing 24 is as follows: By gravity the'pieces A .are'delivered in succession endwise throughthe chute 23 to the casing 24. The lowermost piece A is caught in the pocket 33 directly below the chute 23. The gate 32, providing the bottom part of the forward wall 23 of said chute, guides said piece into said pocket. This position of the parts is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5. In said position, an offset 29 of a finger 29 is near to the end of the trigger 32.

In the next operative movement of' therotor' 25 the said offset 29 strikes the trigger 32 and swings the gate away from the piece A in the pocket 33, permitting said piece to be carried on by the rotor. At the same time the next succeeding piece above is engaged'by and rides upon the fingers 29 and arms 23 until the next succeeding pocket 33 is brought to position below the chute 23; Thereupon said piece is guided into said pocket. To facilitate and guide the movement of the piece A into said pocket the arm 28- has a heel 28* which is curved inwardly toward said pocket in-manner to reduce the shock of; the drop of said piece into the pocket; In the meantime the spring-controlled gate 32 has returned to its position of forming the forward Wall per length 38'.

of the chute. In this movement of the rotor the piece deposited in the pocket 33 is delivered to the shelf 34 upon which it rests until it is discharged therefrom, as will be now described.

From the shelf 34 in the casing 24 the pieces A are fed intermittently sidewise and transversely of said casing by a horizontally reciprocable plunger 35 to a wrapping drum 36 (see Figure 8). To this end, the casing 24 is provided with horizontal aligned openings in the plane of the shelf 34--an opening 34 for the entrance of said plunger 35 and an outlet opening 34 for the discharge of a piece A. The wrapping drum 36 is of familiar construction,

with pockets 3! equally spaced about its periphery. It is intermittently operated in timed relation to the operation of the said feed rotor 25* and the plunger 35, to bring one of its pockets 3'! into horizontal alignment with the shelf 34 and the outlet opening 34 of the casing 24, to receive a piece A when it is propelled by said plunger 35' into said pocket 31. After the retraction of said plunger, the rotor 25 is again operated to deposit another piece A on the shelf 34; after which the first operation is repeated.

A wrapper strip 38, of a width greater than the length of the pieces A, is fed from a roll 38* supported at the top of the machine (see Figure 1). After passing about suitable tension devices it passes through a channel 39'fixed to the frame (see Figure 10) to'the wrapping drum 36, which is of length equal to the width of said strip 38. The channel 39 terminates in a transverse shearing blade 39 with which is associated a movable blade 40. The wrapper strip 38 is fed across a pocket 31 (see Figures 8 and 10) and the advancing edge comes to rest against a transverse bar 4|.

In proper timed relation to the transfer of the piece A from the shelf 34 to a pocket 31, which has been brought into alignment therewith, a wrapper 38 of predetermined length is severed from the strip. This occurs just as the advancing edge of a piece A engages said wrap- The further advancing movement of the plunger 35 drives the piece A with the enfolding wrapper into the pocket as shown at A in Figure 10. In the further advance of the wrapping drum from the full line position of the-piece A indicated at A to the dotted line position at A the lower projecting margin of the wrapper is engaged by the proximate edge of the plate 4! so as to fold said margin about the advancing edge of the piece. In the further advance from the dotted line position shown at A to the fullline position shown at A the bottom wrapper margin at the advancing edge of the stick is brought into engagement from below with a sealing iron 42, as shown in Figures 8 and 10.

Immediately thereafter a coacting sealing iron 43 engages the top margin of the wrapper length from above, as shown in Figure 10, so as toseal the two margins together near the advancing lateral edge of the piece. the plunger 35 delivers the next stick from the casing 24 to a pocket 3'! which has been advanced to receiving position when the sealing irons above described have functioned.

From the position shown at A the partially wrapped stick is carried through the dotted line position shown at A to the full line position shown at A ,the partially wrapped stick being retained in said pocket in a familiar manner by means not shown. Curved ribs 44 concentric with At the same. time and spaced from the curved surfaces of the wrapping drum as shown in Figures 8 and 10, act to wipe the sealed margins of the wrapper towards the body of the stick. In the position A the pocket opens horizontally to the left.

The operation of thus laterally enclosing the stick with the wrapper when moving from the position shown at A through the position shown at A and thence to A5 is illustrated, respectively, in Figures 11 and 12.

From the wrapping drum 36 the laterally wrapped sticks are then fed in succession to an end sealing casing 45 (see Figures 3 and 8) wherein the open tubular ends of the wrapper shown in Figure 12 are collapsed beyond the stick upon themselves to form the fiat sealed end fins 38 38 as shown in Figure 13. .The mechanism in said device comprises the following:

Within the casing 45 in horizontal alignment with a pocket 31 in the wrapping drum 36, when the stick is in the position indicated at A are fixed, laterally spaced, horizontal guide channels 46, 46 (see Figures 3, 8, 9 and 14) adapted to receive the open tubular ends 36, 38 of the wrap per. Said channels are open at their inner edges and at the entrance ends they are flared apart as indicated at 46 46* to receive the open tubular ends 38 of the wrapper. 4'! indicate the longitudinally spaced upright fingers of the familiar transfer bar 41 which operates in proper timed relation with the rotating movement of the wrapping drum 36. One of the fingers 4'! (shown in dotted lines in Figure 8) engages back of a wrapped stick when it reaches the position A Said sticks are fed in succession through the casing 45, with the projecting wrapper ends 38 (Figure 12) engaged between the flanges of the channels 46. V

48, 48 indicate idle discs mounted by studs 49 upon the vertical side walls 59 of said casing 45. Said discs project at their lower peripheries through longitudinal slots 5i in the channels 46 spaced at intervals corresponding to the intervals at which the pieces A are fed. The discs 48 engage the tops of the projecting tubular ends of the wrapper in manner to pinch them together as shown in Figure 13.

Next beyond the casing 45 is located a package assembly carriage 52 (see Figures 3 and The carriage 52 comprises horizontal, laterally spaced channel members 53, 56 disposed in the plane of and in line with the channels 46, 46 in the casing 45; and a cross-head 56 to which said channels are rigidly secured. 55 indicate three parallel fixed horizontal bars located below the carriage 52 and adapted to support the wrapped pieces A as they pass through the channels 46. 54 indicates a top spring-controlled pressure bar adapted to engage the tops of the wrapped pieces as they are pushed onto the bars 53, 53 as and when they are fed to said carriage. The bar 54 is supported by the bar 54 above it. The crosshead 56 projects laterally beyond the carriage 52 where it is provided with a sleeve 56*, which is reciprocably mounted on a horizontal rod 51 extending parallel to the path of travel of the carriage 52 and fixed to a bracket 58.

60 indicates (Figure 1) a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to a link 61 which in turn is itself pivoted at 62 to the frame. The sleeve 56 has a depending arm 59 which is pivotally connected to the longer upper arm of the lever 60 above the link 6!. 63 indicates a casing in which is mounted a horizontal shaft H in the neighborhood of the bottom end of the lever 66. On said shaft is fixed a cam' 65 provided with a cam groove 66 (see Figure 3). A roller 61 travels in said cam groove 66 and is mounted on a horizontal stud 68 fixed to a forked arm 69 intermediate the ends of said arm. The forked end of the arm 69 carries a sliding block 64 which is rotatively mounted on the shaft H. The other end of the arm 69 extends beyond the cam and is pivotally connected at I0 to the bottom end of the lever 60. By this construction the lever 60 will be swung on itspivotal connection through the link 6! to the frame at 62 in such manner as to reciprocate the cross-head 56 and the carriage 52 in a horizontal plane.

As the wrapped sticks are advanced in succession from the casing 45 by the fingers 41 of the transfer bar 41 they are moved one by one into the carriage 52 with their end fins 38 engaged within the channels 53 of said carriage,

with the bodies of said sticks supported on the bottom bars 53 and yieldingly held down thereon by the pressure bar 54. In this movement each package passes under laterally spaced spring-controlled triggers 13, 13 carried by the cross-head 56 (see Figures 15 and 16) which act as an abutment to engage and move the sticks with the carriage when the carriage advances to the left.

The fingers 41, of which there are parallel sets of five, are mounted on a duplex transfer bar 4'! (see Figure 3). Said bar is operated by crank arms 41 in a familiar manner to bring each set of fingers into operative position to engage a stick, and then depress them below the stick after they have advanced it to a certain position.

Thereupon said stick is engaged by the next advancing set of fingers and carried forward again in like manner. This is continued until an assembly of five sticks has been delivered to the carriage 52 with their lateral edges in close engagement as shown in Figure 15.

After the five sticks have been fed to and received by the carriage 52, the lever 60 is operated. to advance the carriage 52 and deliver the five sticks into one of four like transfer arms containing an elongated chamber each adapted to receive the assembled wrapped sticks. 15 (see Figure 15) indicates each of the four transfer arms. They are radially mounted in a horizontal plane on a hub 16 keyed to a tubular vertical shaft 11. With the hub 16 the four arms constitute an intermittently rotating turret 18. This is designed in its rotation to shift each arm 15 from an initial or first station I which is in direct horizontal alignment with the movement of the carriage 52, to a second station II at right angles thereto; then to a third station III, and then to a fourth station IV; Thence the wrapped finished package as will hereinafter be described, is ejected horizontally to a discharge belt 86 by means of which the packages are carried to another station to be packed in any desirable manner.

Each of the arms 15 consists of horizontal, laterally spaced members 15*, 15 and an intermediate memher 35 Mounted on said member '55 are fixed, vertically spaced, radially disposed parallel bars or jaws M, 82 which are fixed to the hub 16. They are disposed in the first position in radial alignment with the axis of the carriage 52 in position to receive the carriage 52 and the wrapped sticks carried thereby. The bar 62 is a spring bar and acts to yieldingly hold the package when it is brought between the two bars 8 82.

The forward ends of the channels 53 of the carriage 5-2 are rounded. to form blunt noses 53 through and below a flat tubular guide 14* into.

the path of said carriage. Said strip is intermittently fed and severed to wrapper lengthv 1.4?-

by mechanism indicated at 14 (see Figure '1) like that which intermittently feeds and seversthe stick wrapper lengths as heretofore described.

84 indicates a sliding yoke mounted on the bar 8|; It is limited in its outward movement thereon by pins 81* fixed near the end of said bar -(see Figure 17). Said sliding yoke is pushed by; the carriage 52' back against the hub 16. Said spring plate 82 yieldingly holds thev package against the top bar 8| as the carriage 52 is withdrawn to return to its first position. This spring. bar also retains the package in place when the arm 15 is moved from and through positions I, II, III and to IV. In this movement the free ends 74 of the package wrapper length, which project beyond the ends of the arms 15 withpart of the top section still held in the guide 14 are caught and guided between horizontal arcuate plates 19* fixed to the frame and flared at their ends adjacent position I to receive and guide said free endsin their movement to position II and position III (see Figure 15). The flat tubular guide 74 is slotted on the one edge in order to permit such movement and disengagement of the top wrapper section from said tube.

With the package in position I as shown in Figure 15, the five sticks are embraced in the wrapper strip which is folded about the forward edge of the leading end stick, with its lateral margins embracing the fins 38 of the sticks, and with the free ends 14 of thewrapper strip M extending beyond the rear end stick as shown-in Figures 16 and 18 and in dotted lines in Figure 15.

From position I the arm 15 in proper timed relationis moved to position II. In this position the package is subjected to action between U-shaped upper and lower heating dies 85, the legs 85 and 85 of which engage the lateral margins of the wrapper sheet in the neighborhood of the fins 38 and the cross members 85* of which engage between themthe wrapper in the neighborhood adjacent the following edge of the rear end stick of the package. Since the wrapper strip is made preferably of a heat sealing paper, these heating dies prepare the paper for sealing together when the arm 15 is shifted to station III. There the lateral edges of the wrapper are subjected to action between clamping pressure dies 86, 89 which engage the margins '19 of the wrapper sheet in like manner to that of the first named heating dies, as shown in Figure 15.

In addition, at position III the projecting free ends 14 of the package are subjected to the action of cutter blades 81, 88 (see Figures 3 and 15) by means of which they are cut to angular form [9 with a projecting tab '19 to be grasped by the user of package when it is to be opened.

From position III, the turret is rotated to bring the arm 15 to position IV where it is disposed above and in alignment with an endless discharge belt 89. Said belt is mounted on a pulley 8E! (see Figures 1 and 2) which in turn is mounted on a horizontal shaft 89' having fixed to its other end a pulley 89" The latter pulley is driven in In the advance" of the carriage toan:

proper timed relation by a belt 89 from a pulley fixed on the horizontal shaft H It will be understood that in the movement of the turret 18 with its arms 15 in and to the several positions described; the package is yi'eldingly held between the bars 8l*and 82 with an end in engagement against the yoke 84. Said yoke is provided with an upright centrally facing cam lug 89. This lug comes to'position to be engaged by a cam arm 90, mounted on a vertical rock shaft 9|, when a turret arm I5 reaches the position IV in alignment with the discharge belt 88. At the: instant this happens, said cam arm 99 isoperated: by the rock shaft 9! to engage the cam lug 89. of

the yoke 84, and by said yoke eject the package from between the upper and lower jaws or bars" 8!, 82 from which it drops to the discharge belt Passing now to the machanism for operating the turret head 18 and its associated parts above described: The fixed blade 88'asociated with the third position of a turret arm 15 (see Figures 3, 15 and 17) is mounted on the frame 20. The movable blade 81 is mounted on a vertically reoiprocable head 92 pivotally connected to a link- 93 depending from one arm of a lever 94. The

lever 94 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 95 having rota'tive bearing in brackets 96, 96 rising from the frame, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

gaged in a cam groove 98 of a cam drum 98F. Said cam drum is fixed to the vertical shaft Tl, which is continuously rotated.

The clamping dies 86, also associated with the third position of the turret arm 15, have fixed to.

them studs 86 86 projecting upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from said dies. 99, 99 indicate rock arms attached to said studs 86*, 86* with interposed springs to provide for yielding engagement of said dies with the parts of the wrapper engaged thereby; The upper arm 99 isv fulcrumed to one end of a horizontal stud I00 fixed to a bracket 29* of the frame (see Figures 3 and 4).

cam drum 98 fixed to the shaft 71. The bottom arm 99 is fixed to one end of a horizontal rock shaft lilll (see Figure 3) mounted in a bracket 20 Like mechanism is employed for operating the.

heating dies 85, associated with the second position of a turret arm. Vertically disposed studs 85 85* are fixed to the heating dies 85, 85. Said studs project upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from said heating dies. 99*, 99 -indicate rock arms attached to said studs 85 85 I 02* in the aforesaid cam 98 fixed to the vertical shaft Tl. shaft 196 (see Figure 3) and carries a cam roller l9! which engages a cam groove lill in a cam' Ill! fixed to the upright shaft H9 (see Figures 2 and 3).

The turret 18 is intermittently rotated to bring the several arms 15 into their successive positions heretofore described by any familiar mechanism, as for example the familiar Geneva gear (Figure 3) including an intermittently rotated member 11* fixed to the vertical tubular shaft TI and a continuously rotated member 'i'l fixed to a vertical shaft I I0 which in turn is driven by beveled gearing Ill (see Figure 2). The shaft H0 is connected by gears H 2, H3 (see Figures The other arm of the lever 94 carries a roller 9'! en-' A cam roller lDl carried by the arm 99 is engaged in a cam groove I02 in the aforesaid A cam roller IOI carried by said arm 99* is engaged in a third cam groove The lower arm 99 is fixed to the'rock.

2 and 3) to the upright shaft 'II to which is fixed the barrel cam 98*.

The vertical rock shaft 9| to which the cam arm 90 which acts to eject a package A is fixed, is rocked by a link II4 which connects an arm H5 fixed to said shaft to the lever arm 6E]. The

connections at the ends of the link are universal to. compensate for the angular relation of the link I, the shaft 9| and the lever Bl].

The horizontal shaft II, suitably mounted in the frame Zil, extends back of the frame where it is connected in any suitable manner to a motor H6, (see Figure 2). As shown, the motor is connected by belt and pulley Hi to a horizontal, transverse shaft H8 at the right-hand end of the machine. From said shaft H8, and through a return train of gears I i9, I26, I2I, and sprocket I22, chain I23 and sprocket Ii l on the shaft II, said shaft II is continuously rotated.

The continuously driven shaft I I8 is connected by any familiar gearing, as by the familiar Geneva gearing indicated at I25 in Figure 2, to impart an intermittent timed movement to the horizontal shaft 35 upon which is fixed the wrapping drum 3% (see Figures 3 and 8). By such gearing the intermittent rotation of the wrapping drum 36 in the manner described is brought about.

I26 indicates a horizontal shaft extending parallel to the intermittently rotating shaft 36 and connected by gearing I2I at one end to the shaft 36 and by miter gearing I28 to a transverse shaft I 29 and gearing I38 to operate the intermittently rotated shaft 26 of the rotor 25 in the piece transfer casing 24 (see Figures 2 and 6).

On the intermittently rotating shaft 38 is a sprocket I3I which, by a chain I32 indicated, in dotted lines in Figure 3, is connected by a sprocket and chain to drive, in any familiar manner, the two feed rollers I 33, I33 which act to feed the piece wrapper strip 38 to and through the channel 39, and thence to the wrapping drum 36.

The movable blade All is operated in a familiar manner by a rock arm, crank and eccentric I35 on a shaft I35 driven by the train of gearing I26, I2I which is continuously driven from the shaft H8. (See Figure 2.)

A like rock arm, crank and eccentric I38 on a shaft I31 driven by a sprocket and chain I38 from the continuously rotating shaft II (see Figure 2) operates the movable cutting member of the severing mechanism M for the package wrapper strip (see Figures 1 and 2) fed by suitable rolls driven by a sprocket and chain (not shown) from a sprocket I58 on the shaft 3%.

At the front of the machine on the forward end of the continuously rotating shaft H8 (see Figure 3) is mounted an eccentric mechanism I39 connected to the transfer bar M by link M The plunger 35 which operates to transfer the pieces A from the casing 24 to the wrapping drum 36 is fixed to the top of one arm 35 of a rocker member I48 mounted on a stud shaft MI fixed to the frame (see Figures 8 and Said rocker member is connected by a link I42 to the eccentric I39. By this mechanism the transfer bar 41 is operated in unison with the reciprocating movement of the plunger 35 so as to transfer thev pieces A from the casing 24 to the wrapping drum in timed relation to the removal of said piece when partially wrapped, by the transfer bar 41 The upper sealing iron 63 associated with the wrapping drum as shown in Figures 3 and 10 is carried at the upper end of an arm I43 which is fixed to the rocker member I40. The sealing iron is thus operated in timed unison with the plunger 35. The sealing iron 42 is mounted on a rock arm I34 pivoted on the frame at I4. I45 indicates a link yieldingly and pivotally connected to a fixed stud I46 on the frame member Ito at one end and pivotally connected by pin and slot It? at the other to operate the sealing iron i2. By this construction the sealingirons are brought to engagement with the margins of the wrappers for the pieces as hereinbeiore described, with a yielding movement which permits them to remain in contact for a short length of time during the transfer of a piece from the casing 24 to the wrapping drum by the reciprocating plunger 35.

The reciprocation of the carriage 52 and the intermittent rotation of the turret I3, designed to arrest one of its receiving arms I5 in position to receive an assembly of sticks in the forward intermittent movement of said carriage, are as hereinbefore described. The fingers ll of the transfer bar ll are spaced lengthwise of their travel sothat when on their upper level of travel they will successively engage and intermittently advance in laterally spaced relation the partially wrapped sticks from the wrapping drum 36. Their continued advance will carry the sticks in laterally spaced relation to the left towards the carriage 52, with the end fins of the wrapped sticks engaged in the channels 16 of the casing 45, which extend into abutting relation with the channels 53 of the carriage 52.

The reciprocating movement of the carriage 52 is preferably timed to arrive at its rearward movement, to the right as shown in Figure 1, when the fingers t'I of the transfer bar 47* have brought, edge to edge, three wrapped sticks in position forward of the yielding abutments I3. The remaining two sticks to complete the package are moved into edge to edge engagement with each other into the carriage and-beyond the yielding abutments I3 by the next following fingers 41 in succession, so that the fifth stick is advanced with its following rear edge beyond and engaged by said fingers as a rear abutment. Then the carriage in its timed relation moves forwardly with its assembly of five wrapped sticks into the arm I5 disposed in alignment therewith, as hereinbefore described.

Upon the return movement of the carriage, the above described operation is repeated. The fingers dI deliver to the carriage upon its return movement three wrapped sticks; and in the interval before its forward movement, two wrapped sticks to complete the package. And this operation is all in timed relation to the intermittent operation of the feed of the sticks to the stick wrapping drum and to the intermediate reciprocation of the carriage to permit the movement of the laterally spaced wrapped sticks into lateral edge engagement for assembly in the carriage, which delivers said assembly to the package wrapping turret.

As will be understood, the wrapper web 38 for the pieces of chewing gum or the like and the wrapper web It for the. package, either or both, will generally bear on their respective exposed surfaces longitudinally, equally spaced display panels to appear upon the top and bottom of the wrapped stick and upon the top and bottom of the wrapped package, disposed symmetrically upon the stick or the package, as the case may be. Accordingly, as in the mechanical feed of such webs, they are known to advance or lag under varying conditions and prevent proper register at all times of the panel with the piece or with the package, suitable familiar mechanism controlled by the electric eye may be provided, as indicated in Figure 1, to compensate for. said lag or advance of said webs. As they form no part of the present invention, however, no description thereof is made herein.

While in describing the preferred embodiment of the invention it is shown as applied to the wrapping of gum sticks, it will be understood that it is applicable for wrapping sticks, pieces or other objects of any material. For the sake of brevity the term sticks will be used, where necessary, in the claims to refer to the articles which the machine is designed to wrap.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps projecting beyond the ends of the sticks, means for collapsing the projecting open ends of said wraps to form fiat end fins, means for assembling said wrapped sticks in a common plane with the their lateral edges engaged and with said end fins in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly a wrapper to enclose the top and bottom faces of said assembly, to enclose the outer edge of each end stick thereof, and to embrace between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps.

2. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a flat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps projecting beyond the ends of the sticks, means for collapsing and sealing the projecting open ends of said wraps to form flat end fins, means for assembling said wrapped sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with said end fins in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly a wrapper length adapted to enclose the top and bottom faces of said assembly, to enclose the outer edge of each end stick thereof, to extend freely beyond one end of said assembly, and to embrace between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps.

3. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps projecting beyond the ends of the sticks, means for collapsing and sealing the projecting open ends of said wraps to form fiat end fins, means for assembling said wrapped sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with said end fins in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly a wrapper length adapted to enclose the top and bottom faces of said assembly, to enclose the outer edge of each end stick thereof, to extend beyond one end of said assembly and to embrace between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps, and means for cutting overlying free end extensions of said wrapper into angular form.

4. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular Wraps projecting beyond the ends of the sticks, means for collapsing the projecting open ends of said wraps to form flat end fins, means for assembling said wrapped sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with said end fins in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly and sealing an integral wrapper length adapted to enclose the top and bottom faces of said assembly, to enclose the outer edge of each end stick thereof, and to embrace between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps,

5. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps projecting beyond the ends of the sticks, means for collapsing the projecting open ends of said wraps to form fiat end fins, means for assembling said wrapped sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with said end fins in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly a wrapper adapted to enclose the top and bottom sides of said assembly, to enclose the outer edge of each end stick thereof, and to embrace and seal between lts lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps.

6. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps projecting beyond the ends of the sticks, means for collapsing the projecting open ends of said wraps to form fiat end fins, means for assembling said wrapped sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with said end fins in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly and sealing an integral wrapper length adapted to enclose the top and bottom faces of said assembly, to enclose the outer edge of each end stick thereof, and to embrace and seal between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps, andmeans for cutting the overlying free end extensions of said wrapper into angular form. I

7. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a flat package, comprising means for assembling said sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with their ends in parallel alignment, and means for applying and sealing said stick assembly in a wrapper, said wrapper being adapted to enclose the outer lateral edges of the end sticks of said assembly and having lateral margins extending beyond the ends of said sticks to maintain the stick assembly in fiat package form.

8. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat-package, comprising means for assembling said sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with their ends in parallel alignment, and meansfor applying and sealing said stickassembly in a wrapper length, said wrapper being adapted to enclose the outer lateral edges of theend sticks of said assembly and having lateral margins extending beyond the ends of said sticks to maintain the stick assembly in fiat package form.

9. A machine for 'wrapping a plurality of sticks in a flat package, comprising means for assembling said sticks in a common plane with their lateral edges engaged and with their ends in parallel alignment, and means for applying to said stick assembly a wrapper length adapted to enclose the top and bottom faces of said assembly, to enclose the outer 'edge of each end stick thereof, to extend beyond one end of said assembly and to embrace between its lateral margins the ends of said sticks, and means for cutting overlying free end extensions of said wrapper into angular form.

10. A machine for wrapping a plurality of wrapped sticks in a flat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps collapsed at their ends to form end fins beyond the sticks, means for feeding said wrapped sticks in succession in a common plane, a carriage reciprocable in said plane adapted to receive said wrapped sticks and maintain them in edge engagement, means for feeding a package wrapper length into the path of said carriage adapted to enfold the advancing end stick of said package assembly, said wrapper length being of a width to embrace between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps and to project beyond the following end of said package assembly, and means for folding and sealing said package wrapper length to enclose said package assembly.

11. A machine for wrapping a plurality of wrapped sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for wrapping the sticks in tubular wraps collapsed at their ends to form end fins beyond the sticks, means for feeding said Wrapped sticks in succession in a common plane, a carriage reciprocable in said common plane adapted to receive said wrapped sticks and maintain them in edge engagement, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length having top and bottom sections adapted to enfold the advancing end stick of said package assembly, said sections being of a width to embrace between its lateral margins the end fins of said stick wraps and of a length to project beyond the following end of said package assembly, means for folding and sealing said package wrapper length upon said package assembly upon said fins and adjacent its following end, and means for cutting the free ends of said wrapper sections beyond said end seal.

12. A machine for wrapping a plurality of sticks in a fiat package, comprising means for feeding said sticks in succession in a common plane, a carriage reciprocable in said common plane adapted to receive said sticks and maintain them in edge engagement, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length adapted to enfold the lateral edge of the advancing end stick of said package assembly, said wrapper length being of a width greater than the length of said sticks and having top and bottom sections of a length to project beyond the following end of said stick assembly, means for folding and sealing said package wrapper length upon said stick assembly. beyond the ends of the sticks and about the following edge of the following end of said assembly, and means for cutting the free ends of said wrapper sections beyond said end seal to angular form.

13. A machine for Wrapping and sealing in a fiat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins comprising means for feeding said wrapped sticks in succession, a reciprocable carriage provided with oppositely disposed channels adapted to receive said end fins, means to yieldingly maintain said sticks in edge engagement in said carriage, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage, comprising radial arms each including vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and retain between them a package assembly, means for feeding and severing a pack age wrapper length more than double the length of the package assembly and of a Width to embrace the end fins of the wraps of said sticks,

means for intermittently rotating said turret in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage to bring said arms to successive stations, and heating and clamping devices operative at said successive stations of said arms upon the lateral edges of said wrapper and adjacent the: following end of said package assembly for sealing said assembly in a fiat package.

14, A machine for wrapping and scaling in a 75 of said carriage to-bring said arms to successivefiat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins comprising means for feeding said wrapped sticks in succession, a reciprocable carriage provided with oppositely disposed channels adapted to receive said end fins, means to yieldingly maintain said sticks in edge engagement in said carriage, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage, comprising radial arms each including vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and retain between them a package assembly, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length more than double the length of the package assembly and of a width to embrace the end fins of the wraps of said sticks, means for intermittently rotating said turret in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage to bring said arms to successive stations, heating and clamping devices operative at said successive stations of said arms upon the lateral edges of said wrapper and adjacent the following end of said package assembly for sealing said assembly in a fiat package, and means for ejecting said package from each arm after said sealing.

15. A machine for wrapping and scaling in a fiat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins comprising means for feeding said wrapped sticks in succession, a reciprocable carriage provided with oppositely disposed channels adapted to receive said end fins, means to yieldingly maintain said sticks in edge engagement in said carriage, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage, comprising radial arms each including vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and retain between them a package assembly, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length more than double the length of the package assembly and of a width to embrace the end fins of the wraps of said sticks. means at the advanced end of said carriage to engage said wrapper length and push it between said jaws as said carriage advances, means for intermittently rotating said turret in timed re lation to the reciprocation of said carriage to bring said arms to successive stations, and heating and clamping devices operative at said successive stations of said arms upon the lateral edges of said wrapper and adjacent the following end of said package assembly for sealing said assembly in a fiat package.

'16. A machine for wrapping and sealing in a fiat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins comprising means for feeding said wrapped sticks in succession, a

reciprocable carriage provided with oppositely disposed channels adapted to receive said end fins, means to support and maintain said sticks in edge engagement in the reciprocation of said carriage, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated in timed relation to the recip-' rocation of said carriage, said turret comprising radial arms each consisting of laterally spaced members and of intermediate vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and maintain a package assembly, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length more than double the length of the package assembly and of a Width to embrace the end fins of said wrapped sticks, means for intermittently rotating said turret in timed relation to the reciprocation stations, and heating and clamping devices operative at said successive stations of said arms, upon the lateral edges of Said wrapper and adjacent the following end of said package assembly.

17. A machine for wrapping and sealing in a flat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins, comprising means for feeding said Wrapped sticks laterally and in succession in a common plane, a carriage reciprocable in said plane provided with oppositely disposed channels to receive said end fins, means providing a yielding abutment at the following end of said carriage adapted to admit wrapped sticks as they are fed thereto and to maintain them in edge engagement when said carriage is advanced, a fixed support for thewrapped sticks in said carriage, yielding means for holding said wrapped sticks upon said support in the reciprocation of said carriage, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated in the plane of and in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage, said turret comprising radial arms each consisting of laterally spaced members and of intermediate vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and retain said package assembly with said end fins in the spaces between said radial arms and said jaws, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length more than double the length of the package assembly and of a width to embrace the end fins of said wrapped sticks, means for intermittently rotating said turret in timed relation to the reciprocation of said carriage to bring said arms to successive stations, and heating and clamping devices operative at successive stations of said arms upon the lateral edges of said wrapper and adjcent the following end of said package assembly.

18. In a machine for wrapping and sealing in a fiat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins, a wrapping turret comprising a plurality of arms disposed at right angle to each other, said turret being adapted to be rotated intermittently to bring each arm to a receiving station, then in succession to second, third and fourth stations, each arm comprising laterally spaced, horizontal members and a pair of relatively yielding, vertically spaced jaws disposed between said arm members, a reciprocable carriage positioned to deliver to an arm when in the receiving station an assembly of wrapped sticks with the end fins of their wraps projecting laterally beyond said jaws, means for feeding into the path of said carriage and severing a wrapper of a length to provide top and bottom sections of greater length than that of said package assembly and of a Width to embrace said end fins, heating and clamping devices adapted to engage said wrapper length when an arm is at the second station to heat the lateral margins of said wrapper sections embracing, said fins and the projecting ends of said sections adjacent the following end of the stick assembly, clamping and heating devices adapted to engage and seal said wrapper parts and fins together at the third station, and means for ejecting said wrapped packages from said turret at the fourth. station of an arm.

19. In a machine for wrapping and sealing in a fiat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins, a wrapping turret comprising a plurality of arms disposed at right angles to each other, said turret being adapted to be rota-ted intermittently to bring each arm to a receiving station, then in succession to second, third and fourth stations, each arm including vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and retain between them a package assembly, a reciprocable carriage positioned to deliver to an arm when in the receiving station an assembly of wrapped sticks with the end fins of their wraps projecting laterally beyond said jaws, means for feeding into the path of said carriage and severing a wrapper of a length to provide top and bottom sections of greater length than that of said package assembly and of a Width to embrace said end fins, heating and clamping devices adapted to engage said wrapper length when an arm is at the second station to heat the lateral margins of said wrapper sections embracing said fins and the projecting ends of said sections adjacent the following end of the stick assembly, clamping and heating devices adapted to engage and seal said wrapper parts and fins together at the third station, and means for ejecting said wrapped packages from said turret at the fourth station of an arm.

20. In a machine for wrapping and sealing in a flat package a plurality of sticks enclosed in wraps with projecting end fins, a wrapping turret comprising a plurality of arms disposed at right angles to each other, said turret being adapted to be rotated intermittently to bring each arm to a receiving station, then in succession to second, third and fourth stations, each arm including vertically spaced, relatively yielding jaws adapted to receive and retain between them a package assembly, a reciprocable carriage positioned to deliver to an arm when in thereceiving station an assembly of wrapped sticks with the end fins of their wraps projecting laterally beyond said jaws, a slidable yoke on each arm adapted to be engaged by said carriage, means for feeding into the path of said carriage and severing a Wrapper of a length to provide top and bottom sections of greater length than that of said package assembly and of a width to embrace said end fins, heating and clamping devices adapted to engage said wrapper length when an arm is at the second station toheat the later-a1 margins of said wrapper sections embracing said fins and the projecting ends of said sections adjacent the following end of the stick assembly, clamping devices adapted to engage and seal said wrapper parts and fins together at the third station, and a cam operated at the fourth station of an arm to engage said yoke and move it radially of said arm to eject the package carried thereby.

21. In a wrapping machine, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated to suecessive positions, comprising a plurality of radial duplex arms spaced at angular intervals, each arm including verticallyspaced, relatively yielding jaws with their lateral edges spaced within said duplex arms, means for feeding and severing a package wrapper length more than double the length of the package assembly to be wrapped, and of a width to extend into the spaces between said jaws and said duplex arms, means for intermittently rotating said turret from a first position to successive positions, U-shaped clamping devices disposed at one or more successive stations of said arms adjacent the end and lateral edges of said jaws, and means associated with the last position of said arms adapted to discharge a package engaged between said jaws and a conveyor to receive said package when discharged.

22. In a wrapping machine, a wrapping turret adapted to be intermittently rotated to successive tating said turret from a first position to successive positions, U-shaped clamping devices disposed at one or more successive stations of said arms adjacent the end and lateral edges of said jaws, means associated with the last position of said arms adapted for moving said yoke outwardly to discharge a package engaged between saidjaws, and a conveyor to receive said package when discharged.

LAWRENCE J. SALADINi 

